Did You Know . . . The Longest Symphony in the Standard Repertory Is Mahler’s Third?

By Robert Markow | From the May/June 2026 issue of Strings

The First Symphony (1919–27) by English composer Havergal Brian (1876–1972) is slightly longer, by about ten minutes (depending, of course, on who is conducting). Nicknamed the “Gothic,” it is also a record-breaker for the mind-boggling forces required: a 150-piece orchestra, four additional brass ensembles, five choirs, four vocal soloists, and organ.

The Second Symphony by Prussian composer Jean-Louis Nicodé (1853–1919) clocks in at a little over two hours and takes the prize for being the longest symphony in one movement. Another English composer, Derek Bourgeois (1941–2017) wrote an astounding 116 symphonies—No. 42 (2008), subtitled “Life, the Universe, and Everything,” lasts two and a half hours. Double that for the Second Symphony (“Jami,”1942–51) by still another Englishman, Kaikhosru Sorabji (1892–1988). At nearly five hours, it has never been performed, but there is a computer-generated version of it. 

Topping the list is Symphony No. 12 (1951) by the Romanian composer Dimitrie Cuclin (1885–1978). It has never been performed, but its estimated playing time is around six hours.